IntroductiontoEnvironmentalHealth-UniversityofPittsburgh.pptVIP

Introduction to Environmental Health Allison Robinson University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania November 2001 Learning Objectives Define fundamental terms Explain the basic relationship between the environment and health Explain impact of environmental factors on health Explain role of environmental health professionals Performance Objectives Understand what is environmental health Understand scope of problem definition Understand means of addressing defined problem Understand the role players involved in problem solving Outline Definition of Environmental Health Interdependent Relations Environmental Effects on Health Systematic Approach Interdisciplinary Roles Definition: ‘Environmental Health’ ‘…comprises those aspects of human health, including quality of life, that are determined by physical, biological, social and psychosocial factors in the environment. It also, refers to the theory and practice of assessing, correcting, controlling, and preventing those factors in the environment that can potentially affect adversely the health of present and future generations’ (WHO, 1993a) Interdependence Health depends on resources. Good health depends on accessibility to sustainable resources. Bad health results from inaccessibility to sustainable resources or exposure to a hazard. Sustainable resources and hazards exist in the environment. Therefore, quality of health depends on the environment Interdependent Environments A relational definition of environment is a function of scale, boundaries, spatial proximity and recipient populations When considering a global scale, focus is on the effect of an unbounded environment, e.g. air, on all populations anywhere Interdependent Environments When considering local scale, focus is on effect of both a bounded and an unbounded environment, e.g. water and air, on a subpopulation closest to the exposure event The local scale is a subpart of the global scale Population Perspective of Relations Health and Environment